From left, Devin Dortch, 12, and Jovan Thomas, 9, pose for pictures with St. Nick and Winona Lake police officer Dave Rapp.

WARSAW — The store front of Warsaw’s Meijer was lit up like a Christmas tree Thursday night, Dec. 13, as a host of police cars converged on the store to help hand out clothes and toys to area children during the annual Christmas With a Cop event.

The man from the North Pole himself, Santa Claus, was also on hand to pose for photos with the children, and in at least one case with the participating police officers as the event, hosted by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 149, brightened the days of more than 100 children.

“We’re just helping members of our community who need help this year and we like to give them kind of a good perspective on law enforcement and like to help people through tough times,” said event organizer Paul Heaton of Lodge 149, also a lieutenant with the Warsaw Police Department. “We are at a record number, we’ve never had this many kids,” Heaton continued. “We have approximately 160 kids confirmed.”

Heaton said a set dollar amount is selected that will be used for all of the children and said half of the amount is used to provide clothing items, while the other half is for toys and other types of gifts.

“It’s through generous gifts and through fundraising throughout the year that we’re able to make this possible,” Heaton said. “We try to make it as practical as possible because we know that a lot of times, they need certain items of clothing throughout the year, especially the winter months.”

Police cars from multiple agencies in Kosciusko County lit up the Meijer store front during Christmas With a Cop, Thursday night, Dec. 13.

Posing with Santa are, from left, Winona Lake police officer Dave Rapp and Ben Sanders with the Claypool Police Department.

Sgt. Greg Oberlin of the Warsaw Police Department attended the Christmas With a Cop event Thursday night, Dec. 13, and got to spend quality time with 15-month-old granddaughter, Izabelle Johnson.